And those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in Our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good. 29:69 The Quran

Zardari's Political Detractors

Dr Syed Javed Hussain

By all definitions Asif Ali Zardari is an embattled President. Despite having the full support of his coalition partners as well as the biggest Opposition in the House, he is unfortunate enough not to have ameliorated his detractors who remain as much adamant as they are lethal.

The offensive is on all three counts; the sources his authority springs from. President may think that legally, politically and morally he is unassailable, his detractors, with equal conviction think the otherwise. However, remote it may be they even think they have a chance to question the legality of his election as president.

In recent weeks, despite Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhari’s assurances that Supreme Court will not derail the system, the curse spewing adversaries continued to bank on SC’s decision on NRO. Their hopes were dashed to the ground, even though certain PPP leaders along with other opinion makers such as Asma Jehangir had termed the SC’s judgement on NRO as somewhat offensive.

Zardari and Manmohansingh

Further they had hoped that the PPP leadership would not honour and implement Supreme Court’s decision, and resultantly ensuing clash of institutions would result in Zardari’s eviction from the president house. Ill-thought and ill-timed outbursts of Raja Riaz, Rana Imtiaz, and Zulfiqar Mirza though well meaning for Asif Zardari, rekindled dashed hopes of anti Zardari cartel for a while.

However, that pleasure was acutely short-lived. Soon at heal came Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s assurances in unequivocal terms that government was fully resolved to follow the constitution and implement SC’s decision in letter and spirit.

Our political wizards on TV screens created unnecessary hype over hypothetical scenarios. Supposedly, in case the government failed to implement SC’s decision, the CJ was forced to invite the Commander in Chief of the Army under article 190 of the constitution to take over the country.

Under this scenario, unlike in the past, for the first time the Supreme Court under Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhari, instead of legitimizing the unconstitutional acts of the army would rather be inviting it to take over the country.

This is the scenario only the most resilient of Zardari’s antagonists can imagine to take place. The president has no dearth of them. Beyond what’s imaginable is what’s impossible. Zardari and his ministers are being coerced on so called moral grounds to resign from their posts; first exonerate themselves from all the allegations against them in the courts of law and then come back to their public positions.

Iftikhar Mohad Chaudhary, former Chief Justice of PakistanThis is simply no less than asking for the moon. Zardari’s detractors want to dethrone him and his colleagues by invoking a non-existing moral value in Pakistan’s political culture. It also has no legal precedence. Like a devil quoting the scriptures they are adamant even though they themselves know that their argument has no force to impact.

Are we oblivious of how our courts work? One life is not enough to get resolved a case. Further, their exuberance and satisfaction over the independence of courts under Ch. Iftikhar Ahmed, is so unwittingly exposed. It is not unlike their crude no confidence on independent judiciary.

What difference does it make what authority any “respondent” wields, if the courts are to decide the case on merit? Drawing the battle lines, the PPP has rightly refused to accede to such illogical demand. The danger is not over yet. Excluding the president, Nawaz Sharief has joined in the demand asking for all the NRO beneficiary ministers’ resignation.

As they are not forthcoming, bickering between the PPP and the PML (N) is expected to further intensify and soon the embattled president may have some more serious issues to handle.

Taken hostage by homegrown terrorism, regional liabilities, religious extremism, growing corruption, severe economic down turn, electricity and gas shortage, brewing water problem, and misplaced nationalism in Baluchistan, Pakistan stands at a cross-road, whereas its president, co-chair-man of the most popular party, which is also the ruling party, is bogged down within the four walls of his seat of power.

Constantly, he is being blamed for whatever is at hand or whatever can be hammered in. Once he speaks, there are people who can make a mountain out of a molehill. His speech at Nodero was nothing more than an outburst of a hurt husband bereaving a personal loss and that of a politician who heads a party as well.

Our political wizards read into the speech something Zardari may not have dreamt of: a threat to the Army Chief and muscle showing to the Americans. How ludicrous we can sound once our judgment has been crooked by our own prejudices.

Army is being dragged into the arena to mount pressure on Zardari for obvious gains. Zardari’s detractors are taking calculated risk without giving weight to the fact that Pakistan’s domestic variables are highly unpredictable. Guns have no ears and bullets no eyes.

Despite all the hype created by politicians and the press, if Pakistan army is not showing any appetite for politics, it is due to certain objective conditions. Its hands are full and its reliance on foreign aid is acute, hence is amenable to external influence.

Change the variables and see how quickly and conveniently the so-called democratic structure can wind up. There has never been any dearth of such politicians who would support a dictator for a dime without a pang to their conscience.

Information

In recent weeks, despite Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhari’s assurances that Supreme Court will not derail the system, the curse spewing adversaries continued to bank on SC’s decision on NRO. Their hopes were dashed to the ground, even though certain PPP leaders along with other opinion makers such as Asma Jehangir had termed the SC’s judgement on NRO as somewhat offensive.﻿